DOVER — Usually when the Pirates and Sand Lizards take the field, there are playoff spots on the line. Despite shaky starts, both teams find themselves fighting for not just playoff spots, but seeding.

Dover, who opened the season 2-4-1, have won their last two games to get to 3-3 in conference and in a four-way tie with Clarksville, Dardanelle and Mena.

“It’s huge,” Pirates Head Coach Chris Taylor said. “We’re extremely proud of our kids for not giving up. There was a point where we were 2-4 and we had just gotten through the meat of our schedule. We played Booneville and Pottsville back-to-back and got mercy-ruled both games. It would have been easy for our kids to have given up, but you have to give them credit, they came out and we pulled a big upset against Clarksville and I think that really built up our kids’ confidence.”

If Dardanelle wins tonight, they will have either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed, depending on what happens in the Clarksville-Waldron game on Friday. If the Panthers and Sand Lizards win and Mena loses to Booneville, Clarksville will be the No. 3 seed, Dardanelle wraps up the No. 4 spot and the Bearcats will be the fifth seed. If the Pirates and Panthers win and Mena loses, Dover will wrap up the No. 3 seed and will host a first-round playoff game.

“I know there’s some crazy scenarios where we can still get in (if we lose tonight), but I would love to take care of business and get in with a win,” Taylor said.

Dardanelle has to win and hope Clarksville loses if they want to host a playoff game.

“That’s the great thing about the situation both teams are in: we’re not sitting here playing this game saying, ‘We need so-and-so to help us,’” Sand Lizards Head Coach Josh Price said. “If we win, we’re in. Period.”

But both coaches know it won’t be easy. Though they have been outscored by an average of 31-18 this season, the Pirates have stiffened on defense and have reduced their mistakes on offense.

“Dover’s defensive philosophy is to make you keep snapping it,” Price said. “They’re not going to do a whole lot of stunting and blitzing and that kind of stuff. If you execute well, you can get 5, 6, 7 yards a play, but that’s it. They’re not going to give up 30- and 40-yard runs. So you’ve got to keep snapping it.

“The thing about Dover you notice is how much better they are, and how much better they’re playing now than some of the early film we had on them. Hats off to those guys. They’ve really improved over the last half of the season.”

Dardanelle has been outscored 23-20 on average this season, but have allowed just 11 points a game in their last three ball games, including just 14 to a tough Booneville team last week.

“We’re going to have to play really well up front,” Taylor said. “I’m really proud of how well our offensive line has played and hope they continue to play well. We have to play, I don’t want to say mistake-free, but we have to limit our mistakes, especially when we get into scoring position.”

The Sand Lizards only scored six points last week against Booneville, but Taylor said he knows Price’s team will provide a tough challenge for his team.

“Well, we know they’re going to get their yards,” he added. “They’ve moved the ball against everybody that they’ve played. We know that’s going to happen. If we can keep them out of the end zone and force them to attempt field goals, I’d say that was a victory on defense. We know we’re not going to get many three-and-outs.”

Other games tonight include Russellville hosting Cabot, Johnson County Westside hosting Danville and Magnet Cove at Two Rivers.